Non-refillable bottle.



H. W. DEUTSGH. 'NoN-REHLLABLB BOTTLE.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR. 25. 1908.

Patented 0011.26, 1909.

Q91 in awe A MOI N. p. a

HANS WILHELM DEUTSCH, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

NON-REFILLABLE BOTTLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 26, 1909.

Application filed March 25, 1908. Serial No. 423,256.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HANS WILHELM DEUTSCH, a subject of the Emperor of Austria and the Apostolic King of Hungary, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Non- Refillable Bottles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in bottles and analogous containers of the non-refillable type, the object in view being to provide a novel construction of bottle of this character wherein provision is made for initially filling the bottle through an inlet at the bottom thereof and discharging the contents through the neck, means being provided for permanently closing the inlet after the bottle has been once filled and for preventing the introduction of liquid through the neck,

so that refilling of the bottle cannot possibly be accomplished without destroying the inlet closure or so mutilating the bottle as to give visual evidence of the fact that the bottle has been tampered with.

The invention also provides means for the free inlet of air to the'interior of the bottle through the neck, to permit ready discharge through the outlet channel of the neck.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a central vertical section through a bottle embodying my invention, showing the filling inlet closed. Fig. 2 is a sectional iew on an enlarged scale of the filling inlet and closing means therefor. Fig. 3 is a detail showing the arrangement of the valve in the air channel.

Referring to the drawing, 1 designates the body of the bottle, which may be of any preferred form and construction, and which is provided with a neck 2 which is to a great extent solid and provided throughout the greater portion of its length with a discharge channel or passage 3, preferably of serpentine form, as shown, in order to prevent the introduction of a wire or tool in an attempt to unseat the check valve therein for the introduction of liquid. The upper end of the channel opens at one side of the neck into a chamber 4: at the top of the neck, in which the ordinary cork or stopper may be applied for the purpose of preventing waste of the liquid when the bottle is held in an inverted position and access of dust and dirt to the channel. The lower end of the channel opens into the body of the bottle at the opposite side of the neck and is formed to provide a valve chamber or recess 5 contracted at its lower end to provide a seat 6 through which is formed a comparatively small opening 7 connecting the lower end of the channel with the body of the bottle. The bottom surface of the solid portion of the neck is flared or converges from all sides toward the opening 7 as indicated at 8, to facilitate the discharge of the contents when the bottle is tilted for that purpose. The upper and lower ends of the channel are substantially straight and vertical, while the intermediate portion has a substantially S-curve, to impart to it the desired serpentine contour. Thesaid lower end of the channel is enlarged or widened immediately above the chamber 5 to form a space 9 into which the check valve 10 may move to open position, said space being approximately equal in length with the body of the valve so that the latter will be fully confined within the same when fully unseated. The valve is provided with a guide stem 11 movable in the opening 7 and adapted to close the same when the valve is seated, the upper end of the valve being adapted to abut against the shoulders 12 and 13'to limitits outward movement. The valve is adapted to open and close by gravity upon the tilt-' ing of the bottle and its restoration to an upright position, and when fully unseated lies in line with the lower end of the channel so that it will be subjected to the pressure of-the entering fluid if an attempt is made to refill the bottle when inverted, thus causing the valve to be seated and to prevent the introduction of the liquid through the opening 7. In order to permit of the outflow of the liquid when the valve is unseated a bypass 14 is formed in the neck and is separated from the space 9 by a partition 15 on which the shoulder 13 is formed, such by-pass communicating with the lower end of the channel and the chamber 5 above and below the space 9 and also with the upper and lower ends of the latter. It will be seen that this construction permits of the discharge of the liquid from the bottle, while preventing refilling of the bottle by any of the known methods, and that by connecting the valve receiving space 9 at both ends with the by-pass provision is afforded for preventing the formation of an air cushion in said space and for balancing the pressure on the valve, thus" adapting it to have freedom of movement in both directions. 7

To provide for the free and unobstructed discharge of the liquid through the channel 3, and to prevent the spasmodic flow caused where the air is compelled to enter the bottle through the liquid discharge channel, an air inlet passage or channel 16 is provided at one side of the neck, said channel communicating at its upper end with the chamber 4 and extending at its lower end through one side of the bottle body and opening into the latter below the base of the'neck. The

said air channel has an offset portion 17 to serve as a trap and thus prevent introduction of liquid into the bottle therethrough, and is provided adjacent its lower end with a check valve or obstructor 18 consisting of a ball loosely fitted in a pocket 19 formed erating to obstruct the passage of any liquid can thumb. bananas-L; Ia. i a,

which may find its way past the offset portion 17, the movement of the liquid serving to force the valve against the opposite wall of the channel so that it will effectually close the latter and prevent any possibility of the liquid passing into the bottle.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that the construction of the neck is such as to provide for the free discharge of the liquid therethrough, and also such as to prevent any possibility of the bottle being refilled through the discharge or air channel. In practice, the neck may be formed in two parts with portions of the channel in each, one of the parts being integral with the bot tle, so that when the other part is connected with the said integral part, by the process of fusing it thereto or otherwise, the portions will mate and form the channels 'or passages, it being understood that prior to connecting the parts of the neck the valve and ball will be fitted in position so that when the parts are joined they will be permanently retained in the neck, and cannot be removed without destroying the neck, thus giving visual evidence of the fact that the bottle has been tampered with.

The bottle is designed to be initially filled through a filling opening in the bottom thereof, which is afterward permanently closed by a locked closure. As shown, the bottom of the bottle is provided adjacent one side with an inset or depressed portion 20 and an exterior cavity or recess 21. Extending inwardly from the wall 20 and registering with an opening therein is a filling tube 22, having a discharge portion 23 provided with an opening 24:, the parts 22 and 23 being separated and connected by a substantially frusto-conical body 25, constituting an expanded part of the tube, the outer portion 22 of which is provided with a flange or projection 26 extending into said body or chamber. These parts are preferably formed integral with the body of the bottle, and in order to seal the same after the bottle has been filled the following construction of closing means is provided.

A stopper tube 27, acting as a locking device, is provided to fit within the tube 22 and project through the chamber 25 into the tube 28. This tube 27 has a pin or rivet 28 extending transversely therethrough and which is engaged and surrounded by the coiled central portion of a spring catch,

said catch being formed of a piece of wire, the ends of which project through openings in the sides of said tube and provide a pair of locking arms 29 having inturned projections 30. In the operation of inserting the 1 locking device into the filling tube, the locking arms are bent or folded inwardly to lie in recesses 81 in the sides of the locking tube so as to admit of the introduction of said tube, the tube also being formed with openings 32 into which the projections 30 may extend. lVhen the locking tube is fully inserted the spring arms on passing the flange, or shoulder 26 spring out into recesses in the otherwise solid conical portion 25, which act as a keeper therefor, and thus lock the said locking tube against withdrawal. The fiange or projection 26 operates as a guard to prevent manipulation of said spring arms from without or any possibility of the arms being dawn backward to normal position and permitting withdrawal of the locking tube. Prior to the insertion of the locking device, a stopper 33, of cork, rubber or some other suitable elastic material, is applied to close the opening 2%, and such stopper is formed with a reduced portion 3 1 to' enter the inner end of the locking tube. It will be understood that the elasticity of the stopper permits of the insertion of the locking tube to an extent to permit the free ends of the locking arms passing the flange or projection 26, after which the expansive action of the stopper, which is held slightly compressed by the locking device, serves to retain all the parts securely in position.

It will accordingly be seen that the invention provides a bottle of simple construction which, after having been once filled, cannot be refilled without breaking the neck, or the frangible filling tube, thus giving warning by visual evidence of the fact that the bottle has been tampered with. It will also be seen that the device provides for the ready and free discharge of the contents without the spasmodic flow produced in those structures in which the air must enter through the same channel through which the liquid discharges.

The outer end of the filling tube and the recess 21 may be closed by a stopper or body of plastic material 35 and which may be stamped or impressed with the seal of the party or firm filling the bottle or the name of the goods. This material may, of course, be removed without difliculty, but as the outer end of the locking tube is closed and as said tube is in the form of a hard metal capsule, it is apparent that such tube cannot be removed without breaking the frangible tube 22 and rendering the bottle useless. Moreover, the removal of even the plastic stopper 35 will lend suspicion that an attempt has been made to refill, while the breakage of the tube 22 will give proof positive of that fact.

Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is 1. A bottle having a neck provided with a valve-controlled circuitous discharge passage, and an air channel independent of said passage, said channel being provided with a vertical portion opening at its upper end through the upper portion of the neck and a horizontal portion extending from the lower end of the vertical portion laterally of the neck into the upper portion of the bottle body and having a down turned terminal communicating with the body below the upper end thereof, said channel also being provided with an offset in its vertical portion and a cavity in one of its walls at the junction of said vertical and horizontal portions, and an obstructing device loosely mounted in said cavity and projecting partially into the channel.

2. A bottle provided with a circuitous discharge passage, a vertical valve chamber at the lower end of said passage having a seat at the lower end thereof and having its upper end arranged in alinement and communicating with the passage, a discharge port opening through said seat and the bottom of the neck, a segmental by-pass communicating at its lower end with the valve chamber above the lower end of the latter and at its upper end with the lower end of the dis charge passage, a segmental partition separating the by-pass from the upper portion of the valve chamber, said partition being provided at its upper end with a shoulder overhanging the valve chamber, a cooperating shoulder upon the wall of the valve chamber opposite said partition, a gravity valve movable in the valve chamber and of less length than the latter to occupy the lower portion of the valve chamber when in engagement with said valve seat, said valve being limited in its upward movement by said shoulders, an air channel independent of said passage and having an offset portion and a cavity formed wholly in one of its walls below said offset portion, and an obstructing device loosely mounted in said cavity1 and projecting partially into said channe 3. A bottle having its neck portion formed with a circuitous discharge passage, a vertical valve chamber at the lower end of said passage having a seat at the lower end thereof and having its upper end arranged in alinement and communicating with the passage, a discharge port opening through said seat and the bottom of the neck, the latter being inclined in all directions toward the port, a segmental by-pass communicating at its lower end with the valve chamber above the valve seat and at its upper end with the discharge passage above the valve chamber, the wall of said chamber opposite said bypass being provided at its upper end with a stop shoulder, a segmental partition between the by-pass and upper portion of the valve chamber and provided at its upper end with a coacting stop shoulder, and a gravity valve movable within and of less length than said valve chamber, said valve comprising an elongated body portion having straight transverse upper and lower ends to engage the shoulders and seat, and a reduced stem projecting from its lower end and movable within said discharge port.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HANS WVILHELM DEUTSOH.

Witnesses W. S. THOMPSON, S. E. CLIGKENER. 

